MANHATTAN, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics) – K-State’s all-time home run leader and two-way star Dylan Phillips was selected in the eighth round (No. 238 overall) of the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Angels Monday.
Phillips, a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team selection, is the first Wildcat taken in this year’s MLB Draft and the fourth K-State draft pick in the top 10 rounds over the last four seasons.
In four seasons at K-State, the Omaha, Nebraska, native compiled 44 career homers – breaking the previous record of 37 by Scott Poepard that had stood since 1997. In 2022, Phillips led the Cats with 13 home runs to go with 13 doubles, 44 runs batted in, eight steals and a .283 average. He led or tied for the team lead in home runs in each of his four seasons.
A Preseason All-American and Preseason All-Big 12 pick, Phillips was named Big 12 Player of the Week on April 5 after becoming K-State’s home run king. He was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team and Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
Additionally, the left-hander made a career-high 16 appearances on the mound (one start) last season with a 2.66 earned run average while collecting a team-leading eight saves. He struck out a career-best 26 hitters in 20 1/3 innings with just three walks, as opponents hit.186 against him.
Phillips collected two saves in three appearances during the 2022 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship, earning all-tournament recognition as a relief pitcher. During the Wildcats’ semifinal tournament run, he totaled five innings and seven strikeouts, yielding one earned run on two hits.
It marks the second straight Draft in which the Angels have selected a Wildcat, as left-hander Eric Torres was a 14th-round pick last season. Phillips is the third player in program history selected by the organization.
Head coach Pete Hughes has now overseen 80 draftees in his 25-year head coaching career, with six coming in four seasons at K-State. K-State has had at least one player taken in 18 of the last 19 MLB Drafts.
Wildcats in the 2022 MLB Draft
| Player | Round | Pick | Team |
| UTL Dylan Phillips | 8 | 238 | Los Angeles Angels |
